By Don Wetmore
Time Management
Don Wetmore
I speak each month with professionals who feel stuck in a situation they didn’t expect to be in. Some are underemployed. Others have been recently downsized. Many are still working, but quietly uneasy about how secure their role really is.
If any of that sounds familiar, you’re not alone – and more importantly, you’re not without options.
After 30 years as a certified business coach, I’ve seen one pattern repeat itself again and again: highly capable people underestimate the value of what they already know. They assume their experience only “counts” if it fits neatly into a job description someone else has written.
But here’s a different way to look at it.
What if your experience could start paying you – this month? Not through another job offer, but by working directly with people who need your help. In other words, consulting.
Now, before you dismiss that idea, let’s clear something up. Consulting isn’t about being a celebrity expert or having all the answers. It’s not about flashy branding or complicated systems. At its core, consulting is simply this: helping someone solve a problem you already know how to solve.
That’s it.
Over the years, I’ve helped professionals – from corporate managers to independent contributors – turn their existing skills into consulting income on the side. Many started with little to no upfront investment. No website. No complex technology. Just a clear understanding of what they could offer and who might need it.
And that’s where most people get stuck: not in capability, but in clarity.
Here’s the simple framework I often use to help people get started. Think of it as a practical way to turn “I have experience” into “I have something people will pay for.”
First, identify what you can offer. This usually happens faster than people expect. Look at the problems colleagues, clients or managers have consistently come to you for. Those patterns matter.
Second, position it clearly. You don’t need jargon or buzzwords. You just need to describe your value in a way that makes someone say, “That’s exactly what I need.”
Third, find your first client. Not your tenth – your first. This is often someone already in your network. Consulting doesn’t begin with a mass audience; it begins with a single conversation.
Fourth, deliver real value. You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be helpful, reliable and focused on results. Confidence grows quickly when you see the impact of your work.
Finally, build momentum. One successful project leads to another. Referrals happen. Your confidence strengthens. What started as a small step begins to feel like a real opportunity.
If you’ve been thinking, “I should be doing something on the side,” or “I can’t keep relying on one income stream,” I’d encourage you to take that instinct seriously. It’s not just worry – it’s awareness.
The goal isn’t to abandon what you’re doing. It’s to expand your options.
In today’s environment, waiting for certainty can leave you standing still. Exploring consulting, even in a small way, puts you back in motion. It gives you a sense of control, a way to test your value in the market, and potentially, a new stream of income.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to start looking at your experience differently. Chances are someone out there is already looking for exactly what you know how to do.
Don Wetmore is a certified business coach and the author of “The Productivity Handbook” and “Organizing Your Life.” Contact him at 203-394-8216 or ctsem@msn.com.